Narrator Kathleen McInerney flawlessly depicts the joys and sorrows of 11-year-old Thyme Owens and her family as they move to New York City from San Diego to treat 5-year-old Val's nerve cancer. Listeners hear Thyme's first-person perspective as she hopes for her brother's full recovery and feel her conflicting emotions as she longs for her old life. She keeps pieces of paper that note time she "earns" doing her chores, hoping to use the time to visit California. McInerney's thoughtful rendering of Val is inspiring and heartbreaking as he bravely faces his treatments. The parents' contrasting personalities and glimpses of Thyme's school life and first crush add moments of normalcy. COUNTING THYME will help other middle schoolers coping with similar situations.
(Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: April 12, 2016
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780147525680
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Live Oak Media recently caught our attention with this new read-along book and cassette program. We listened first, and were so delighted we couldn't wait to get the book. The picture book made the experience even better, but the audio recordings was strong and vibrant by itself. THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart's Depression-era story of a young girl sent to live with her Uncle Jim in the city has a sweet, wistful quality with narration alone, but coupled with David Small's soft-edged pencil illustration, it's a total delight. The reading is repeated on both sides of the tape, one with and without page-turning signals.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth.
Kestrel and her mother leave the home in California they share with Kestrel's grandfather, a pastor, to stay at a wildlife conservation institute in Montana. Narrator Mirai's youthful voice is a natural fit for this story of a young girl who at first resents being tricked into leaving California, but who later comes to realize that moving away from their strict home life was the right choice. Mirai employs distinctive voices for the adults, like Kestrel's stern grandfather and her uncertain mother, who begins gaining confidence. An author's note at the end discusses emotional abuse and how to find help.
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth. (Verse fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 42 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668175507
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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